State funeral for Manohar Parrikar today, PM Modi to attend
What's the story
Manohar Parrikar, one of the tallest leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, passed away on Sunday in Goa.
The four-time Goa Chief Minister and former Union Defense Minister was suffering from pancreatic cancer for over a year now.
He will be cremated with full state honors on Monday, around 5 PM, reports claimed. The last rites will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Demise
The IIT graduate-turned-CM will be missed by all
Parrikar was the first IIT-graduate to have become the CM. He joined RSS and was handpicked by Subhash Velingkar, his mentor, as the future face of Goa BJP.
Known for his independent style and ability to make decisions swiftly, Parrikar became Goa's CM for the first time in 2000.
He handled defense ministry from 2014 to 2017 and oversaw the 2016 surgical strikes.
Nature
Parrikar earned respect across party lines
Parrikar's humble beginnings and his no-nonsense attitude won him respect across party lines.
He was among the first ones to remove red beacon light from his vehicle. He had said once that the blazing light doesn't necessarily translate to respect.
Quite naturally, his demise has left a void in politics and it is only befitting that the leader gets a respectful funeral.
Final journey
Parrikar's mortal remains will be kept at Kala Academy
Parrikar's mortal remains were taken from his Goa residence to the state BJP office a short while ago.
From there he will be taken to Kala Academy in Panjim, where people can pay their last respects between 11 AM and 4 PM.
The funeral procession will start from Kala Academy at 4 PM. He will be cremated around 5 PM in Miramar.
Twitter Post
Parrikar's final journey begins
Goa: Mortal remains of Goa CM #ManoharParrikar being taken to BJP office from his residence, in Panaji. pic.twitter.com/Ksr8afYDNa
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Mourning
Seven-day mourning declared in Goa
The state of Goa will observe seven-day mourning from March 18 to March 24, both days inclusive, a statement revealed. The National Flag will fly at half-mast during this period and there will be no official entertainment.
All schools and colleges were shut on Monday and exams were postponed.
Separately, the Centre also announced national mourning on Monday.
Attendees
Shah, Rajnath likely to attend Parrikar's final ceremony
Apart from PM Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are also expected to attend Parrikar's funeral.
PM Modi tweeted that Parrikar was the "builder of modern Goa."
"Thanks to his affable personality and accessible nature, he remained the preferred leader of the state for years," PM Modi wrote about the "unparalleled leader".
President Ram Nath Kovind also praised him.
Twitter Post
India will be grateful to Parrikar: PM Modi
India will be eternally grateful to Shri Manohar Parrikar for his tenure as our Defence Minister. When he was RM, India witnessed a series of decisions that enhanced India’s security capacities, boosted indigenous defence production and bettered the lives of ex-servicemen.
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2019